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As a parent of two former Virginia High School students and as a college graduate myself, I am concerned that the state is overlooking the real skills needed by a teacher in pursuit of "excellence" on standardized Praxis tests. If Virginia is so concerned to have the "best" teachers in its school, then why are there no required tests for communications skills. One of the most important skills a teacher needs in the classroom is the ability to listen as well as speak. Patience cannot be measured. Other important skills are caring and a desire to work with children of all abilities and ethnicities. When we pursue "excellence" based on a multiple choice exams, we are excluding those people whose skills are not measureable on a test. If Virginia continues to be so narrow sighted in its approach to teacher accredidation, soon the state will have a pool of teachers who may perform well on multiple choice tests, but not necessarily perform well in the classroom. We know that many new teachers quit after a year or two because they can not handle the pressure. Perserverance cannot be measured on a test. I urge the Virginia Department of Education to rethink the solution of higher Praxis scores as the only avenue to ensuring excellence in beginning teachers.

Dear Concerned Parent:

Virginia does require beginning teachers to take and pass a professional teacher's assessment prescribed by the Board of Education. Since 1996, Virginia has required Praxis I (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) and a subject area assessment. The passing scores for Praxis I are the highest in the nation for states using this assessment for initial licensure.

Praxis I Academic Skills Assessments are designed to measure reading, writing, and mathematics skills considered appropriate for entry into the teaching profession. Communication skills are assessed in the writing assessment. The test in writing, according to the publication Test at a Glance, assesses "the ability to use grammar and language appropriately and the ability to communicate effectively in writing." The topics covered in the test include usage, sentence correction, and a writing sample. The writing test has two separately timed 30-minute sections: 45 multiple-choice questions on the use of standard English and a writing sample based on an essay topic.

Praxis I also assesses reading and mathematics. The test in mathematics measures mathematical skills and concepts, focusing on "key concepts of mathematics and on the ability to solve problems and to reason in a quantitative context. Many of the problems require the integration of multiple skills to achieve a solution." The reading test measures "the ability to understand and to analyze and evaluate written messages. It contains long passages of approximately 200 words, shorter passages of approximately 100 words, and short statements of one or more sentences. The reading material, which varies in difficulty, is drawn from a variety of subject areas and real-life situations."

Praxis II subject assessments are also required of beginning teachers to measure the teacher's knowledge of the subjects they will teach. On June 24, 1999, the Board of Education approved cut scores on 16 new Praxis II tests. The Board adopted high cut scores in mathematics and English language because these areas form the bases for the necessary foundation needed by teachers to teach the K-12 Standards of Learning.

Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Thomas A. Elliott, assistant superintendent, Division of Teacher Education and Licensure, Virginia Department of Education at (804) 371-2522 if you have any further questions regarding the assessment requirement for initial licensure.